Motorcyclist{3 s boots

ABSTRACT

The disclosure is of a motor-cyclist&#39;&#39;s boot comprising a strong boot sole, a boot upper of stiff material secured to the sole, a boot leg movably joined by a bellows-folded portion to the boot upper, and an adjustable protective gaiter of very stiff material movably joined by hinges at ankle level to the boot upper.

United States Patent Heckel Sept. 23, 1975 MOTORCYCLISTS BOOTS 2,444,428 7/1948 Carrier 36/25 AL [75] Inventor: Etienne Heckel, La Walck, France [73] Assignee: Fabrique Alsacienne de Chaussures 3535300 10/1970 7 D & H k l, S q La Walck, Lange France [22] Filed: Jan. 28, 1974 Primary ExaminerPatrick D Lawson Appl No.: 437,029

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 28, I973 France 73.35271 [52] U.S. Cl 36/25 R [51] Int. Cl. A43B 11/00 [58] Field of Search 36/25 R, 2, 2.5 AL, 4, 36/51 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,343,477 3/1944 Ross 36/51 Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Young & Thompson [57] ABSTRA CT The disclosure is of a motor-cyclists boot comprising a strong boot sole, a boot upper of stiff material secured to the sole, a boot leg movably joined by a bellows-folded portion to the boot upper, and an adjustable protective gaiter of very stiff material movably joined by hinges at ankle level to the boot upper.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures MOTORCYCLISTS BOOTS INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to articles for wear on the feet and legs, and refers more particularly to boots intended for use during the practice of motorcycling.

In order to ensure the necessary protection during this practice, either while actually riding or when walking, the boots must be sufficiently rigid whilst adapting themselves as far as possible to the feet and to the legs of the wearer. For this purpose the boots already known, generally made of leather or of a stiff material, comprise closure means, for example with laces or with sliding clasps. These closure means, however, exposed to the inclemeneies of the weather or to projections of oil from the engine, in the long term function badly because of their soiling.

In order to alleviate these disadvantages the invention has as one object to provide a boot, intended more particularly for use during the practice of motorcycling, which is characterised in that, whilst being of an ideal rigidity, it can be drawn on and off very easily, and that, in spite of its rigidity, it allows the moving of the various control members by foot without any inconvenience, by virtue of a joint provided at ankle level.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention the boot is com prised essentially of a conventional boot leg jointed to a boot upper made of very rigid material such as, for example, super-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, a protective gaiter likewise made of very rigid material, articulated to the boot upper by hinges and comprising a plurality of fastening buckles, and a boot sole with a smooth lower surface of which the forward end is rounded.

The following description refers to a form of con struction of the boot which is the object of the invention, given by way of nonlimitative example and explained with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS IN THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I is a side elevation of the boot,

FIG. 2 is a view comparable to FIG. 1 but without the gaiter and hinge, and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the sole of the boot in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT In conformity with the invention, and as represented in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, the boot is comprised essentially of a conventional boot leg I jointed to a boot upper 2 which is made ofa very stiff material, for example super-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, a protective gaiter 3, likewise made of very stiff material, articulated to the boot upper 2 by hinges 4 and comprising a plurality of fastening buckles 5 which make it possible to regulate the tightness of the gaiter 3, and a boot sole 6 with a smooth profile.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the boot leg 1 is provided, preferably at the same side as the closure means of the gaiter 3, with a panel 7 of elastic fabric which allows an adaptation of the boot leg 1 to the leg of the wearer, and an improvement of the comfort thereof in the boot leg 1.

At its upper part the boot leg 1 has a device 8 for the adjustment of its opening, and at the front and at the rear are flaps 9 making it possible to apply traction to the boot leg 1 whilst the boot is being pulled on, which renders this operation very easy.

In conformity with one feature of the invention, the protective gaiter 3 is articulated to the stiff boot upper 2 by means of hinges 4. These hinges 4 are secured to the gaiter 3, for example by means of rivets 11 or equivalent fastening means, and their articulation to the boot upper 2 is effected by means of hinge pins 12. These latter may be fixed by screwing or by any other equivalent releasable fastening means.

According to a further feature of the invention the joint between the boot leg 1 and the boot upper 2, at the level of the articulation of the gaiter 3 to the boot upper 2, is effected by means of a bellows-folded portion 10, thus rendering the movements of the ankle very easy.

In order to make it possible for the wearer, during the practice of motor-cycling, to allow his feet to trail upon the ground without thereby causing an abnormal wearing away of the boot sole 6, and to slide without impediment, particularly for controlling his equilibrium during straightforward riding, the boot sole 6 has a smooth lower profile 13 and a rounded forward end portion 14.

By virtue of the various features provided, the boot which is the subject of the present invention has a very large degree of stiffness whilst permitting articulation, at ankle level, of the stiff protective gaiter to the boot upper. This articulation of the two parts of the boot, by means of the hinges, thus allows a good position of the lower members upon the motor cycle and the moving without inconvenience of the various control components.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the manner of construction described with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Various modifications are possible, notably from the point of view of manufacture as well as from the point of view of the structure and the formation of the boot sole, which may, for example, be embossed in high relief without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A motorcyclists boot, comprising an upper made of very stiff material, a leg portion, a protective gaiter made of very stiff material and overlying said leg portion, a plurality of fastening buckles disposed on the gaiter for adjustment of the tightness thereof, a boot sole secured to said boot upper, bellows-folded flexible material disposed between and interconnecting said upper and said leg portion and extending entirely about the boot, and a pair of hinges each comprising a plate fixedly secured to the gaiter and pivotally secured to the upper on opposite sides of the boot, said hinges pivotally interconnecting the upper and the gaiter at about ankle level.

2. A boot as claimed in claim 1, in which said boot sole has a smooth lower profiled surface with a rounded tip portion.

3. A boot as claimed in claim 1, and pivot pins attaching said hinges to said boot upper.

4. A boot as claimed in claim 3, said pivot pins being screwed into said boot upper. 

1. A motorcyclist''s boot, comprising an upper made of very stiff material, a leg portion, a protective gaiter made of very stiff material and overlying said leg portion, a plurality of fastening buckles disposed on the gaiter for adjustment of the tightness thereof, a boot sole secured to said boot upper, bellows-folded flexible material disposed between and interconnecting said upper and said leg portion and extending entirely about the boot, and a pair of hinges each comprising a plate fixedly secured to the gaiter and pivotally secured to the upper on opposite sides of the boot, said hinges pivotally interconnecting the upper and the gaiter at about ankle level.
 2. A boot as claimed in claim 1, in which said boot sole has a smooth lower profiled surface with a rounded tip portion.
 3. A boot as claimed in claim 1, and pivot pins attaching said hinges to said boot upper.
 4. A boot as claimed in claim 3, said pivot pins being screwed into said boot upper. 